A special subcommittee of the North Dakota Legislature’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Feb. 14 reviewed seven gun-related bills and recommended that House Bill 1588 be sent to the full committee with amendments while issuing do-not-pass recommendations on six other measures.

The subcommittee advanced House Bill 1588 with a recommendation of “due pass” for the amendments after discussion of proposed changes covering definitions, where political subdivisions may set local rules, campus authority, penalties and an officer’s ability to request proof of a concealed-carry license. Representative [First name not specified] Doctor moved the due-pass recommendation on the amendments and a second was recorded; the subcommittee registered affirmative voice responses from Chairman Heinert, Representative Doctor, Representative Haggart and Representative Conmee when polled.

The recommendation matters because HB1588 would change several state rules about weapons in publicly owned or operated buildings, clarify how schools and colleges are treated and alter penalties for violations. The subcommittee debated removing a statewide ban on local ordinances, clarifying that political subdivisions may adopt less restrictive rules, and explicitly authorizing the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education to promulgate campus rules for possession and use of weapons on campuses.

Most of the hearing focused on language edits and exceptions. Representative Katie Fitzsimmons, identified as director of student affairs for the North Dakota University System, told the subcommittee that the university system is already defined in the Century Code to include property “owned, leased, or under the control of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education,” and she asked for clarity in the bill so the board’s authority is explicit. Representative Kamie told colleagues the bill “is not really a bill that we need” and asked, “it’s not broke. Why fix it?”

Other notable changes the subcommittee approved for forwarding with the bill included: changing a proposed knife-blade limit from 5 inches to 6 inches; allowing political subdivisions to enact and enforce ordinances that are less restrictive than the statutory language; explicitly covering school-leased or rented property in the school exception; and reclassifying minor violations from infractions to noncriminal offenses with a $100 fine for a first offense and $500 for a subsequent offense within three years, as drafted in the amendment.

The subcommittee also discussed how the bill treats campus residences and whether the State Board of Higher Education should have clear statutory authority to make campus rules. Fitzsimmons said the board already makes rules for property under its control but supported clearer statutory language.

Separately, the subcommittee considered proposals to exempt entities from liability, require metal detectors or armed personnel in public buildings, prohibit extreme-risk protection orders, and create or change criminal penalties related to firearm accessories. The panel issued do-not-pass recommendations to the full committee for House Bills 1326 (standalone use-of-force language moved to be forwarded by consensus), 1411 (prohibiting extreme risk protection orders), 1296 (produce license on request, language largely incorporated into HB1588), 13502 (liability exemptions and related language), 1365 (requiring weapon-detection screening or armed staff in public buildings), and 1350 (other liability/possession provisions). Several of those measures drew objections from local officials and law-enforcement groups including the North Dakota Peace Officers Association and the State’s Attorneys Association, which opposed certain liability and enforcement changes.

The subcommittee also debated a separate amendment to make possession or sale of a binary trigger a criminal matter. Special Agent Alex Drozky, identified as a witness in the hearing, advised that under current federal law binary triggers are not classified as machine guns; members discussed narrowing a proposed criminal prohibition so that a person who “uses a binary trigger in the commission of a crime” — rather than mere possession — would face a class C felony or an enhancement to an underlying offense.

The subcommittee chair directed Representative Doctor to take the HB1588 amendment package upstairs for drafting and said members would reconvene next Thursday at 9 a.m. to finalize language before the full committee. The panel adjourned after roughly 40–45 minutes of discussion.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 1588 — Recommendation: Due pass on amendments to full committee. Motion: due pass on amendments (moved by Representative Doctor; second recorded). Recorded voice responses: Chairman Heinert — yes; Representative Doctor — yes; Representative Haggart — yes; Representative Conmee — yes.
- House Bill 1326 — Recommendation: Forward as a standalone with a do-pass recommendation by consensus (no recorded roll-call).
- House Bill 1411 — Recommendation: Do not pass to full committee (consensus recommendation).
- House Bill 1296 — Recommendation: Do not pass to full committee (motion recorded; consensus recommendation).
- House Bill 13502 (13-50-2) — Recommendation: Do not pass to full committee (consensus recommendation).
- House Bill 1365 — Recommendation: Do not pass to full committee (consensus recommendation).
- House Bill 1350 (13-50) — Recommendation: Do not pass to full committee (consensus recommendation).

What’s next

Representative Doctor will submit the amendment packet for HB1588 to the committee staff for drafting; the subcommittee plans to reconvene next Thursday at 9 a.m. to finalize the package before advancing it to the full committee.